Mary Cecilia Foley

Mary Cecilia Foley (8 October 1859 – 22 October 1925) was a British geologist who worked at the University of London.

Early life and education Foley was born at Wadhurst, Sussex in October 1859. She was the daughter of John Foley, vicar of Wadhurst, and Caroline Elizabeth Foley (née Windham), and had an older sister, Caroline Rhys Davids and a brother Charles Windham Foley.

Foley studied at University College, London under geologist Thomas George Bonney. She graduated in 1891 with an honours degree in geology and was awarded the Morris prize for geology that same year.

Foley is known for her contribution to the understanding of geology with her discovery of dark green glass in volcanic lava located at Bertrich.

Geologists' Association During the 1890s, Foley was an active member of the Geologists' Association, which is an inclusive professional organization that welcomes geologists of all backgrounds. Foley also published a number of reports of field excursions, and in 1896, she published a paper on 'enclosures of glass in basalt', based on field observations of some volcanic outcrops in the Eifel. From 1901 to 1903, Foley was excursions secretary for the association.

From 1901 to 1925 Foley was the Chief Lady Invigilator at London University.

During the 1900s, Foley assisted her sister Caroline Rhys Davids with the transcription of two Buddhist texts in the Pali language: the Dukapaṭṭhāna (1906) and the Yamaka (1911).